The plant has operated successfully as a conventional gas production site since 1992 and as a gas field and a power station since 1997.

There have been no major planning objections and the site has operated without incident since inception. The gas storage proposal is based on a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment and represents a way to create a significant gas storage facility with minimum disruption to the local environment.

There has been widespread speculation and concern recently about possible gas shortages in winter months in the UK. The storing of gas in the summer months for production at times of peak demand, using facilities such as those proposed at Caythorpe, improves both the national and local security of supply for gas.

Once operational, the Caythorpe Gas Storage Project would add approximately 5% to the UK’s limited gas storage facilities.